VALTREX(Valacyclovir) Once Daily for Viral Shedding In Subjects Newly Diagnosed With HSV-2

Inclusion Criteria: Subject is in overall general good health. If female, subject must be of: Non-childbearing potential (i.e., physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is pre-menarchial or post-menopausal or surgically sterile); or Childbearing potential, but must have a negative pregnancy test at randomization, and must be compliant with one of the following: Complete abstinence from intercourse for two weeks before exposure to the study drug, throughout the clinical trial, and for a period of 1 week after study completion or premature discontinuation from the study (to account for elimination of the drug); Have a male partner who is confirmed to be sterile prior to the female subject's entry into the study and is the sole sexual partner for that female subject; Use of contraceptive(s) with a documented failure rate of less than 1% per year, including but not limited to: implants of levonorgestrel, use of injectable progestogen, oral contraceptives (either combined or progestogen only), an intrauterine device (IUD) or spermicide plus a mechanical barrier (condom/diaphragm). Subjects must be newly diagnosed with a first recognized episode of genital herpes as described in (a) or (b) below (See Appendix 3): a.HSV-2 seropositive at screen, with documented clinical signs and symptoms consistent with genital herpes at screen or within 4 months prior to randomization or b.HSV-2 seronegative at screen, AND HSV-2 culture positive or HSV-2 PCR positive with documented clinical signs and symptoms consistent with genital herpes at screen or within 4 months prior to randomization. Subject must be willing and able to provide written informed consent and comply with the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: Subject is known or suspected to be immunocompromised (e.g., subjects receiving immunosuppressive therapy or chemotherapy for malignancy, or are seropositive for HIV). Subject received an investigational drug in the 30 days prior to the randomization visit. Subject is receiving systemic antiviral or immunomodulatory treatments. Subjects who have received systemic antiherpetic treatments (e.g., valacyclovir, acyclovir, ganciclovir, famciclovir) within 3 days of starting study drug, or immunomodulatory treatments in the 30 days before starting study drug. Subject has clinically significantly impaired renal function as defined by creatinine clearance less than 50ml/min (calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula). Subjects with a history or evidence of decompensated liver disease, or clinically significantly impaired hepatic function defined as an ALT (alanine transaminase) level >3 times the normal upper limit. Subject is known to be hypersensitive to valacyclovir, acyclovir, ganciclovir or famciclovir. Subject has malabsorption or vomiting syndrome or other gastrointestinal dysfunction that may impair drug pharmacokinetics. Female subject who is contemplating pregnancy within the duration of the study drug dosing period. Female subject who is pregnant and/or nursing. Subject with current alcohol or drug abuse. Subjects who have received suppressive (daily) therapy for genital herpes prior to randomization. Suppressive therapy is defined as daily antiherpetic therapy of at least 4 weeks duration. Subjects with a history of ocular HSV (herpes simplex virus) infection.